Gather Materials

• Create beaded bracelets with plastic "pony" beads or round wooden beads sold in the jewelry section of craft stores, or by making your own paper beads. To make paper beads, you'll need 1/8-thick wooden dowels or plastic drinking straws, white glue and an assortment of decorative paper, wrapping paper or magazine advertisements.
  
  You'll also need scissors and string to produce the handmade jewelry. Use string, 1/6-inch-thick ribbon, embroidery floss, yarn or elastic cording that will make it easier for the kids to slip the completed bracelets on and off.
  
  

Prepare the Work Surface

• Cover your work table with scrap paper or a plastic sheet if you're creating paper beads to protect the surface from sticky adhesive residue. If you're using plastic or wood beads, cover the table with bath towels to keep stray beads from rolling onto the floor. Pour plastic or glass beads into shallow bowls so you can choose colors and access the accents easily.
  
  

Make Paper Beads

• If you want to make paper beads for the bracelets, use scissors to cut one triangle of wrapping paper, decorative paper or a magazine page for each bead. Cut long triangles that are 4 inches long and 1 inch wide across the bottom. Make longer beads by increasing the length of the bottom of the triangle, or thicker beads by increasing the length.
  
  Hold the bottom of the paper triangle against a wood dowel or plastic straw with the printed side facing away from you. Roll the paper around the stick once and then add a line of glue across the paper. Continue rolling the paper and add a dab of glue at the end to secure the tip of the paper triangle to complete the bead. Slip the bead off of the dowel or straw and let the glue dry for at least 10 minutes.
  
  Repeat the process to make the desired number of beads. If you're making a 7-inch-long bracelet, for example, you'll need at least seven inch-long beads.
  
  

Form the Bracelets

• Design the handmade jewelry by wrapping a piece of string, ribbon or cord loosely around your child's wrist to measure it. Add 3 inches to the length and snip the string or cord with scissors. Loosely knot one end of the string so the beads don't slip off.
  
  Add the beads randomly or create a colorful pattern. Continue adding beads until you're 3 inches from the end of the string. Carefully untie the existing knot at the end of the string. Tie the two ends of the string together to complete the bracelet.